the program designed to run a robotic work station must take into account how it interacts with the other work stations on "the line". One of the big differences between the work increments defined by industrial engineers years ago and the program steps defined by robotic programmers today is the inaccuracy of humans as opposed to the speed and accuracy of robotics. Articulated robotics are capable of very precise and unending, repetitive tasks that simply cannot be done as accurately and as swiftly by humans. In many cases the robotic replacement for a human in a production line can perform many more steps in the manufacturing process than the human could ever hope to accomplish at the same work station.
The joints of articulated robotics are programmed to work in unison with other parts of the robotic or can work independently. This characteristic gives the robotic a high degree of functionality. There are great variations in the kinematics of articulated robotics. This arrangement of the rigid member and the joints in the robot determines what the type and range of motions of the robotic. Simple tasks that are to be performed require only a limited amount of rigid parts and joints, while multiple rigid parts and multiple joint can do more challenging tasks or even several tasks.The utility of articulated robotics has grown so much in the last few years that they can now do the most minute work on the smallest objects, while their counterparts work with very large objects.
Characteristics of articulating robotics have moved toward meeting the needs of demanding manufacturing operations. Directly coupled drives are much more reliable than robotics built with belts, pulleys or chains. There are various mounting options, depending on robotic size, upright, inverted, or wall, whatever meets the needs of the application. Cables are enclosed in the body of the housing to eliminate entanglement. Encoders have absolute positioning so that homing or calibration is eliminated at power-up.Other units have both pneumatic and electrical connections. With articulated robotics installed on a rail more than one unit can share the same central processing unit. These units are most versatile for medium payloads and work well for welding, wash down and clean room applications.
Small articulated robotics, if installed on the floor, require less floor space for operation. These type units can be configured in multiple ways to accommodate a wide variety of reach, payload, and application requirements. Some units are controlled by multitasking controllers with individual axis monitoring. A single electric gripper or two pneumatic grippers can handle components. The gripper force is continuously adjustable, so that fragile items are handled safely and securely.
Larger counterparts of these robots have extra long reach area with very small footprints, but with higher payloads. These are useful in spot welding, material handling, sealing, die and investment casting, material movement, machine tending, assembling of small parts, calibration, and testing, grinding, polishing, and bonding Larger models of articulated robotics are designed without the need for counter-balancing. These units have advanced link structuring and have the capability to handle very heavy payloads, Usually this type of robotics has mechanical stops and limit switches to create a safe working environment. These robots are used to handle engines, handling car bodies, moving large appliances, investment casting, and forging applications. Some models are built to withstand extremely cold temperatures with the need of heating or shrouds. These are the real work horses of industry.
